Health Services

• Low-Cost
  • Prescriptions
  • Immunizations
  • Laboratory tests (when indicated by clinician)
• Free
  • Self-Care Medications

Student Health Services provides health care designed to address short-term acute illnesses and injuries, provide screening and prevention of communicable diseases, and to assist students in managing their health conditions. Over the counter medications and supplies (such as acetaminophen, condoms, and band-aids) are available during office hours free of charge. Most services are free, some have minimal charges

Same-day and walk-in appointments are available.

• Accidents and Injuries
• Cholesterol Screening
• Coughs and Colds
• Depression Screening
• Diabetes Screening
• Health Education and Information
• Immunizations: Flu, Hep B, Tdap
• Minor Illnesses
• Morning After Pill (emergency contraception)
• Nutrition Counseling
• Physical Exams
• Pregnancy Testing
• Skin Rashes
• TB Testing
• Urinary Tract Infections

Karen Wallace taught English at West Valley College for 35 years, and when she retired in 2009, joined the Health Services staff as Campus Chaplain. Karen holds a Master of Divinity degree from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley with an emphasis in the new theologies: feminist theology, Black theology, womanist theology, mujerista theology, and queer theology, as well as in comparative religions. Karen cares deeply about our students who have been wounded by religion and other cultural values in this society, which might exclude them and their gifts. The Campus Chaplain provides services for students seeking to improve their spiritual health. These services can take several forms:

• One-on-one spiritual counseling, available by appointment (call 408-741-2027)
• Specialized help for students marginalized by religion or culture for their differences
• Consultation with faculty and staff who are helping students in distress
• Representation on the Mental Health Services Advisory Committee
• Representation on the Active Minds Club
• Referrals to on and off-campus resources

Free and Confidential On-Campus Resource for Smoking Cessation Support

Drop in to Student Health Services or make an appointment for:

• Visits, as needed, with staff
• Free and low-cost nicotine replacement products
• Ongoing individual counseling

All currently enrolled students are eligible and welcome to be seen for a wide range of health and wellness services. Every student is charged a health fee at the time of registration that covers most services offered. This fee is not a replacement for personal health insurance. Modest additional fees are charged dependent on individual student needs.

The current fee is $20 per semester and $16 per summer session.

This fee supports Student Health Services, which provides care for on-campus injuries, illness, a self-help medication center, health education, health assessment, information/referral, and personal counseling.

If a student is enrolled at both West Valley College and Mission College, then the health fee need only be paid at one of the two. A valid receipt showing proof of payment at Mission will allow West Valley to waive the fee and vice versa.

Any student who either requests an exemption of the health fee, or is determined by a Student Services program to warrant review for exemption, is asked to please contact the Financial Aid Director; a Financial Aid supervisor or technician will review requests on a case by case basis.

• Personal Counseling
• Online Screening

West Valley Student Health Services offers free, confidential counseling for any and all concerns, including sexual assault.

Sexual assault violates a person in many ways, often when a person is forced or manipulated into an unwanted sexual encounter.

Sexual assault covers a broad range of acts that include, but are not limited to: unwanted sexual contact, dating violence, voyeurism, indecent exposure, oral copulation, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, rape by one or more persons including marital or partner rape, statutory rape, incest, child molestation, and lewd or lascivious acts upon a minor.

Sexual assault abuses a person not only physically but also emotionally and mentally, and shatters a person’s trust and sense of safety.

If you feel you have been a victim of unwanted sexual contact, please call Health Services right away to speak with a confidential personal counselor, or call (408) 299-3233 and ask for a West Valley District Police officer.

West Valley College is compliant with the Campus SAVE Act of 2014.

Mental Health Screenings -  Brief, Anonymous, and Confidential. Topics include Depression, Anxiety, Mood Disorders, Alcohol and Drugs, and Eating Disorders. Take screenings online or use the MindKare Kiosk in the Campus Center.

• Free individual counseling
• Walk-in crisis services
• Referral for DESP accommodations
• Information and referral to campus and community resources

No. Students come to talk about all types of concerns, big and small.

• Whatever is on your mind
• Stress and anxiety
• Relationships and communication
• Substance use and addictions
• Death or loss
• Suicidal thoughts
• Academic pressure
• Depression and loneliness
• Sexuality and gender
• Disordered eating
• Cultural adjustment
• Sexual assault

Licensed mental health professionals, MFT and Social Work graduate student interns.

Yes. Student Health Services maintains a strict policy of confidentiality within HIPAA and FERPA guidelines.

Call (408) 741–2027 or drop by the Health Services office on campus.

• 24 Hour Suicide and Crisis Service, Country of Santa Clara: (855) 278–4204
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273–TALK (8255)
• Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741741
• 911 for Life Threatening Emergencies

At-Risk for Faculty & Staff teach users to identify, approach and connect students to campus support services. The program facilitates student retention, academic performance, and the overall safety of students, faculty and the entire campus community.

In this 45-minute training, faculty and staff learn how to recognize when a student is exhibiting signs of psychological distress and how to approach and connect the student with support services on campus. Users engage in conversations with emotionally responsive student avatars who exhibit signs of psychological distress. In this process, they practice and learn to use open-ended questions, reflective listening and other motivational interviewing techniques to effectively broach the topic of psychological distress, discuss their concern with the student, and avoid common pitfalls such as attempting to diagnose the problem or giving unwarranted advice.

At-Risk for Students shows students how to have challenging conversations with friends and peers around mental health and how to motivate them to seek help from campus support services. This program is included in the SAMHSA National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP).

During the 30-minute simulation, students learn how to recognize when a fellow student is exhibiting signs of psychological distress and to approach and connect the student with support services on campus. Users enter a virtual environment, assume the role of a student, and engage in a challenging conversation with a student avatar who acts and responds like a real student experiencing psychological distress. Their goal in the conversations is to motivate the student to seek help.

LGBTQ on Campus for Faculty & Staff creates a more tolerant and inclusive campus for all students. Users gain hands-on practice managing the challenging conversations surrounding issues of sexual orientation and gender identity, and master skills necessary to connecting students to help.

This simulation prepares faculty and staff to support LGBTQ students on campus. Learners practice how to effectively manage classroom conversations in which prejudiced ideology is expressed, conduct a supportive conversation with a student who discloses an LGBTQ identity, and identify when a student may be distressed and refer them to support.

LGBTQ on Campus for Students teach users how to respond to biased comments, support a student who comes out, recognize signs of psychological distress and how best to connect students to appropriate campus resources.

This 30-minute simulation encourages college students to build a community of respect and inclusion for their LGBTQ peers. Through virtual role-play, learners will learn to address discriminatory language, respond supportively when a peer comes out to them as LGBTQ, and approach and refer a peer who may be distressed and need additional support.

Veterans on Campus for Faculty and Staff helps faculty and staff in understanding the needs, experiences and cultural issues affecting student veterans as they transition to college life.

In the 30-minute training, learners engage in simulated conversations with three virtual student veterans, helping each one resolve a challenge they are facing due to their transition. Users practice referring a service member who is being redeployed, managing a challenging class discussion about conflicts overseas, and approaching and referring a veteran who is exhibiting signs of post-deployment stress. The goals of the program are to assist universities and colleges in improving veteran retention and academic performance, promoting early intervention of students with psychological distress, and reducing stigma that could make veterans uncomfortable on campus.

Veterans on Campus: Peer to Peer is a mentoring program for fellow veterans on campus. In this program users engage in conversations with virtual students to address issues that might arise while transitioning to college life and gain skills in supporting and referring fellow veterans to appropriate support resources.

Using virtual role-play, this simulation is designed to teach student veterans to recognize when fellow student veterans are in distress, approach them, and refer them to appropriate resources, if necessary. This simulation also includes information about common transitional stressors that student veterans may experience on a college campus.

Santa Clara Valley Medical Center

751 S Bascom Avenue
San Jose, CA 95128

1 (408) 885-6900

• Suicide and Crisis Hotline, Santa Clara County: 885-278-4204
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (8255)
• Crisis Text Line: text BRAVE to 741741
• CONTACT Cares Crisis Hotline: 408-850-6125
• Rape Crisis Hotline: 408-287-3000
• Suicide and Crisis Services 408-279-3312
• Emergency Psychiatric Services: Santa Clara County Info. & Access 800-704-0900
• www.211SCC.org: database of health & human service providers
• Domestic Violence Crisis Line: 800-572-2782
• Women’s Shelter - Support Network for Battered Women: 408-279-7550
• Adult Protective Services: 408-928-3860
• Child Protective Services: 408-299-2071

Covered California Health Coverage Options

Medi-Cal

• Children—regardless of immigration status—foster youth, pregnant women, and legally present individuals—including those with DACA status—may be eligible for no- or low-cost Medi-Cal.
• Medi-Cal covers immunizations, checkups, specialists, vision and dental services, and more for children and youth at no- or low-cost.
• Medi-Cal enrollment is available year-round.

Covered California

• Covered California is where legal residents of California can compare quality health plans and choose the one that works best for them.
• Based on income and family size, many Californians may qualify for financial assistance.
• Enroll during Open Enrollment or any time you experience a life-changing event, like losing your job or having a baby. You have 60 days from the event to complete enrollment.

This year there are new laws that expand financial help for Californians. Now many individuals and families who make between $50,000 and $150,000 are eligible for help for the first time. Make sure you visit Coveredca.com to check your what you might qualify for.

You and your family may qualify for financial help

Enroll

Three ways to enroll in Medi-Cal and Covered California:

• Visit Covered CA Online
• Call 1-800-300-1506
• Find In-Person Help

Get Care

• Find a primary care doctor in your network.
• Schedule an annual checkup for you and your family.
• Make sure to take your child to the dentist.
• Pay your monthly premium if your plan requires it.

Renew

• Medi-Cal must be renewed every year. Medi-Cal will mail renewal packet. Complete and return. For help, contact your local Medi-Cal office or call 211.
• Health plans through Covered California must be renewed every year. Renewal information will be mailed at the end of the year, or contact Covered California at 1 (800) 300-1506.

Low Cost Health Resources

• Automated Information 1-877-962-3633
• San Jose 408-758-3800
• Mountain View 650-988-6100
• State Healthy Families Program

This page contains links to health and wellness information for educational purposes only, it is not intended to replace the advice of trained professionals.

• Web MD: general health and medicine
• Online Mental Health Screenings: brief, anonymous, and confidential
• HSACCC Virtual Health Center: Health Services Association of California Community Colleges
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Health and Safety, Traveler's Health
• Medline Plus: Conditions, Diseases, and Wellness
• Go Ask Alice: Q & A internet Sit
• The Unabridged Student Counseling Virtual Pamphlet Collection: Stress Management and Other Topics for
• Dr. Weil: Alternative Medicine
• Diabetes: American Diabetes Association
• Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition (SCAN): Sports Nutrition Fact Sheets

• QuitNet
• California Smokers Hotline

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Helpline & Meeting Referral: 408-374-8511
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Meetings
• National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
• National Institute on Drug Abuse
• NCADD: National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence: 408-292-7292
• GATEWAY - Alcohol & Drug Screening Information & Referral: 800-488-9919

• Association for Size Diversity and Health: Health at Every Size
• EDRC: Eating Disorders Resource Center of Silicon Valley
• Intuitive Eating and the Anti-Diet: Making Peace with Food
• Nutrition Facts

Recommended Reading

• Body Respect by Linda Bacon and Lucy Aphramor
• Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole
• Body of Truth by Harriet Brown

• Next Door: Domestic Violence Solutions
• Bedsider.org: Reproductive Issues
• Homeless Services Brochure: Homeless and Housing Resources
• Santa Clara County Veterans Services: 408-553-6000 - M-F
• Planned Parenthood: 408-287-7526 - M-F

The West Valley Active Minds Club empowers students to change the perception about mental health on college campuses.

Active Minds is the leading nonprofit organization that empowers students to speak openly about mental health in order to educate others and encourage help-seeking.  We are changing the culture on campuses and in the community by providing information, leadership opportunities and advocacy training to the next generation.

Through campus-wide events and national programs, Active Minds aims to remove the stigma that surrounds mental health issues, and create a comfortable environment for an open conversation about mental health issues on campuses nationwide.

Please contact Student Health Services at 408.741.2027 if you are interested in joining the West Valley Active Minds Chapter or would like more information.

West Valley Active Minds Chapter on facebook